New Religious Movements, or Cults, are defined by sociologists to be groups and beliefs counter to the society’s accepted norm, and by theologians to be groups and beliefs counter to the established doctrines of the majority religion. For America, then, a cult would be any group that goes against the Judeo-Christian doctrines, whereas in Islam-dominant countries, Christianity is a cult because it is counter to their dominant faith, Islam. Because ‘cult’ has become, pun-intended, a four-letter-word in our culture, sociologists have worked to alter the vocabulary used to define such groups to titles such as ‘New Religious Movements’. This title is applicable, even though some of these new movements have ancient origins and are only ‘new’ to this country by their recent introduction or expanded marketing. Unfortunately, as both society and religion shift to a melted pool of lukewarm super-tolerant ineffectiveness, real radical Christianity that takes Jesus at His word, feeds the hungry, turns the other cheek, loves one another, and seeks to live holy and undefiled before God will also be labeled ‘cult’.

Many factors play into the emergence of New Religious Movements in the US and other democratic societies. There is the migration of people from various countries having alternate faiths who bring their belief systems with them to a society that welcomes such diversity. There is the natural exploration and even rebellion of young people who wish to either throw off the shackles of oppressive upbringing or simply explore a world of previously unknown options and make their own religious decisions. There is the ingrained desire for something larger and more lasting than the self and the status-quo of ritual and tradition, which if not met by the love and call of Christ will be fertile ground for something fantastic and mystical. There is the growing stereotype and animosity, not wholly undeserved, against the strict pharisaical dogmas of mainline churches, those focused more on rules and appearances than a committed relationship to a personal God. There is the perception, not entirely false, of disregard for natural resources and disadvantaged people that cries out to our sense of fair and begs us work to reverse the decay started at the fall. There is the progressive stifling of what once was Judeo-Christian norm and rhetoric in America, removing the unspoken consensus toward Yahweh as the One God. All of these factors come together to make a ‘perfect storm’ into which un-anchored members of our society get drawn, whirling and tossed, until something or someone that looks stable and wise presents itself as a life-preserver, and the loyal clinging begins.

All an aspiring leader need do, then, is present himself or herself as having the answer, or at least access to the source of the answer. This may come from within a longstanding, established faith such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and their variants, or it may be a new mix of selected ideas from zero, one, or more of these belief systems. Some leaders believe they are right, either because they’re working to restore faithfulness to one or more teachings, or because they’ve received insight or revelation from something external to themselves. Other leaders are classic shysters, seeking to be followed, fawned over, obeyed, and paid. (Check out this episode of Outer Limits, The New Life.  It’s Sci-Fi, but it’s worth a look for some perspective and key points.)

If one is to provide his (or her) neighbor with the solid anchor of the gospel of Christ, s/he must first be able to recognize and navigate the waves of alternate belief systems. Anything less, in today’s society, leaves the evangelist unprepared to answer the question of how Christ is any more a savior than Buddha, Krishna, or Muhammad. While it is true that knowing Christ and the Bible is paramount, we must be aware of the various counterfeits and how to recognize and counter their errors, both for our own safety and for the ministry to those we care about.  It is important to know both the truth, from scripture, and the trends so as not to be inadvertently led astray by something slightly amiss.  Such was the beginning of the Jim Jones fiasco, a slight veering off from the whole truth of scripture until the group found itself irreparably out of alignment.

In order to have arguments considered by thoughtful people in a pluralistic society, one must demonstrate some knowledge and examination of alternate ideas. There is a great skepticism, not totally unhealthy, of those who speak dogmatically from one perspective. The ability to preempt arguments regarding the validity of alternate ideas lends credence to the presentation. It is certain that those entrenched in non-standard beliefs already have arguments to counter the validity of the Bible and Jesus as God’s only Son. This, in part, because they may have arrived at their current belief as a means to reject the version of Judeo-Christian doctrine they grew up around. Leading people (back) to Christ must include overcoming the false but believable statements that have brought/kept them so far away from Him.

We are called to be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves, while always being prepared to give an answer for the hope that we have in Christ. This includes being able to point out His superiority to all other belief systems, whether they carry His name or not.